Marisa Anderson - Live on KBOO

Marisa Anderson's guitar playing knocks me on my ass. Between her melodic fingerpicking, gorgeous use of the slide, and occasional dips and dives into the more dissonant spectrum of her six string's tones, the Portland guitarist is a truly special talent. Fans of Fahey, the blues, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll and just about everything in between will find a wealth of material to admire and fond over in Anderson's debut LP, The Golden Hour, released last year on Mississippi Records (and one of our very favorite albums of 2012). Anderson recently released a live session she recorded on March 8th for Portland's community radio station KBOO, the result of which is a batch of warm, rich, and mesmerizing solo instrumental journeys. Musically, you might never know just where Anderson's wandering play is headed, but that's part of the fun: sitting back and enjoying the ride.

Download the whole session via a pay-what-you-want scenario here.

Marisa Anderson - "Prelude"
Marisa Anderson - "Medley"

Analog Edition Zine: Issue No. 1

The first issue of the Analog Edition Zine is now up in the Analog Edition store. Limited to an edition of 100 physical copies, the 64 page booklet is a collection of interviews, artwork, and articles featuring labels Mississippi Records, Infinity Cat Records, and Father/Daughter Records; bloggers Aquarium Drunkard, Rollo Grady, Tympanogram, 7 Inches, Knox Road, Folk Hive, and Hugh Willett; and bands Sonny & The Sunsets, Lord Huron, and Levek. The rad cover artwork is by the ultra-talented Kaitlin Van Pelt of Breakfast In Fur.

You can now watch a video preview of the zine and read the first 1/3 of it as an online magazine here. Every week, an additional article will be added to the web edition until all 64 pages are online.

Head to the AE store to grab yourself a copy. All orders will ship straight away.

Discovering Marisa Anderson :: The Golden Hour

"This record contains 12 improvisations for guitar and lap steel. All songs were recorded using a four track quater inch reel to reel tape recorder. All songs are presented as they were recorded, with no overdubbing, looping or other layering."

So reads the back cover to Portland guitar extraordinaire Marisa Anderson's LP The Golden Hour, released by the elusive Luddites over at Mississippi Records. The album, inspired by everything from Delta blues and gospel music to West African guitar and country and western, is as warm and intimate a recording as you're likely to ever get your hands on. Anderson may as well be playing in your living room, at turns dancing, clawing, and racing back and forth across her axe like an existentially burdened traveler searching for answers, comfort and the way home. This isn't an exercise in showmanship, but rather a soulful and lyrical journey that welcomes listeners along for the ride.

Download the album digitally from Bandcamp or buy the vinyl from Insound and, if you live in Portland, at Mississippi Records.

Marisa Anderson - "The Golden Hour" (from The Golden Hour)